The group found Ether in his backyard, working tirelessly on some gowns. He masterfully connected the angelic-feeling Eteni wool with warm Eteni leather.
While he worked, he sang a Communional Voice. The tone was carefree, detailing a Thresher's journey to discovering what they want to be.
Hylo mumbled along, she enjoyed this one. Which caught Ether's attention. He jumped out of shock, quickly turning around and trying to block them all from seeing what he was working on.
Instead of questioning it, the twins ran up to their dad and dug themselves into his grasp. Feeling overjoyed in his presence. More specifically, Hylo. She felt like she was safe again.
Ether nodded at Hazen and Jakery, showing his thanks. Which they did in return, trying to avoid the obviously odd detail right behind him.
"So, are we here? Ether?" Valentine's voice was soft and weary.
"Yeah..? Oh, wow," he locked eyes with Valentine. But instead of looking into the eyes of another Variant, he looked into an empty white space. "That guy uh... wow... I - I don't know what to say."
Valentine crossed his arms. "When my lover returns, I won't be able to admire her again. However, my inability to see should not deter her from returning that affection."
Hazen gently tapped her elbow on Jakery's shoulder. "Do you know who that lover is?" she whispered. "He talked about her a lot while recovering. But... we don't know much about her."
Jakery shrugged, keeping his attention on the older Variants. He watched Ether reach up to Valentine's face.
Several closed wounds and partly recovered cuts sat all across his formally perfect face. The skin was paler than ever, rivaling how pale a Thawed would usually look like.
"They took my vision, they destroyed my face. But what have we done in return?" Valentine gritted his teeth.
Ether's hands shot back down to his sides, he knew what this was about. So he took a step back, relaxing his shoulders and looking down at the gowns with great bitterness.
"I know - I know, you want war on Yarno. 'They' started this conflict. By 'pretending' to be peaceful and 'luring' us in," there was obvious defeat in his tongue. "We will get there soon."
Valentine reached up to his right cheek. His aged finger drifted across the damaged tissues and skin. As it passed through, he felt it all. Building a picture of what he probably looked like in his mind.
"But before I make it official," Ether picked up a finished gown. "Promise me one thing. It isn't that big of a promise, either. Please, I am begging all of you, to see them as a friend. For at least a minute."
Hazen shot an eyebrow up, curious on what he meant. So far, it didn't make sense to her. One does not kill those before them because they are their friends, they do so because they are their enemies.
Killing a friend for no reason would contradict one of the strict unspoken rules Thawed practiced. Which caused her to theorize what this could possibly mean.
She stepped forward, keeping an eye on the gown. "I've heard that a lot, but what does it mean?"
Ether handed it to her, keeping a frown on his face. "After a battle, treat the injured and feed the ill. Carry them to a comfortable final moment. Offer them water or give them a lesson in our culture."
He pointed down at a little snowflake around the collar of the gown. "Tell them of First Frost, Tonumki, to even the little celebrations we hold. Tell them about the days we come together and compete against each other for fun."
Hazen's thumbs and index fingers tightened on the dress. "I see what you mean now. You want us to not kill them right away, but to befriend them?"
"Yes," Ether smiled. "When they fall in combat and their men are leveled, gather their badly injured and see if you can save them. Talk to them, comfort them, let them know we aren't brutes."
Jakery's fingers snapped with a lightning crackle. "I doubt they'll do the same. Yarno lured us and pretended to be our friends, now look at us now. We are preparing to take them by the dozens."
Valentine nodded. "Trusting unknown foreigners was our mistake. We should've known better than to visit without learning about them first."
Hylo tugged on Ether's shirt, which caused his attention to land on her. Along with his, so did Jakery and Hazen's.
"Neddy," Hylo's voice was soft and shy. "Are you going to give them these night dresses?"
Ether ran his fingers across her braided hair. "The Yonies, yeah. I want to show I at least want to comfort those I can. And being part Thresher, I know Yonies have no part in any conflict."
"Mmm," Valentine replied. "I am unsure if I could hold back during a battle. What they've done to me was -"
"You've fought long enough," Ether interrupted. "You are getting old, Valentine. Age is catching up to you. So please, rest. Stay in Krugi or Volknair and assist."
Valentine groaned, trying to protest against that idea. But he knew better, his heart wasn't beating as hard as it once did. Yet he didn't want to stop fighting, not after he lost his vision to them.
"I will not attack, under the assumption that I will be placed beneath an elite's command along the Yarno - Imbushko border," Valentine replied.
Hazen placed a hand on his shoulder. "You are looking for death wishes, but that's what a Thawed does. If something happens, think of my name. I will surely hear it and respond."
Ether watched a distant figure get closer, it was Pearl. She quickly walked with baby Azir in her arms, trying to not lose her balance.
The way she walked made it seem like there was an emergency, even her eyes could tell somebody that. When she came to a stop right behind the group itself, she plopped Azir down and stared at Ether.
"Get reinforcements over to the shores right now. One of the elites stationed at Gale's Town sent a messenger and he said they are being bombarded with cannon fire," Pearl's voice was frantic.
Raw electricity pulsed through Jakery's veins. "I'm going right now. Ether," he glanced over to his brother. "I'm sorry, but I am unsure that I can 'hold back' when my home is being threatened."